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March 24, 2026
谦(謙)qiān(qian1)
The character 谦 (qiān) means 'modest' or 'humble'. It is commonly used to describe someone who does not boast about their achievements or abilities and is respectful toward others. In interpersonal contexts, it signifies a virtue in Chinese culture that emphasizes humility and self-restraint.
Strokes12Radical讠Frequency#17457DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 谦 is highly valued and often considered a sign of good upbringing. It reflects the Confucian ideal of modesty and respect for others, particularly in social and professional settings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a quiet person (谦) standing in a crowd, modestly lowering their head so that others can shine. The left part of the character (言) represents 'speech', while the right part (谦) hints at the idea of 'lowering' oneself to avoid speaking too highly of oneself.
Meanings of 谦
qiān(qian1)
1modest
2humble, modest
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 谦
谦Simplified
謙Traditional
12Strokes
讠Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#17457Frequency Rank
Podcast: 谦
Podcast: 谦
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AI Study Notes for 谦
Quick Contrast
谦 (qiān) vs 谦虚 (qiān xū) — use 谦 for a more general sense of modesty, while 谦虚 specifically emphasizes the quality of being modest in a self-deprecating way.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a quiet person (谦) standing in a crowd, modestly lowering their head so that others can shine. The left part of the character (言) represents 'speech', while the right part (谦) hints at the idea of 'lowering' oneself to avoid speaking too highly of oneself.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 谦 with its antonym, 骄 (jiāo), which means 'proud'. It is typically used in both formal and informal settings, especially in polite conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstanding.
HSK Study Tips
Although 谦 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to words like 客气 (kèqì, 'polite') and 尊重 (zūnzhòng, 'respect'). Focus on how to use 谦 in sentences expressing humility, as this aligns with the values of Chinese communication.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 谦 is highly valued and often considered a sign of good upbringing. It reflects the Confucian ideal of modesty and respect for others, particularly in social and professional settings.
Common Mistakes
Students may incorrectly use 谦 to describe someone who is shy or reserved, which are different concepts. Instead, focus on its meaning of humility, as in '谦虚' (qiānxū, 'to be modest').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 谦
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Grammar Patterns of 谦
谦 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
"I'm a lucky man, undeservedly lucky," he said humbly.
5
回过来谦逊地坐上那只空凳子.
huí guò lái qiān xùn dì zuò shàng nà zhī kōng dèng zǐ.
He took the vacant seat with an air of apology.
6
于是热情的哑巴用拇指拨弄谦卑须眉的伞.
yú shì rè qíng de yǎ bā yòng mǔ zhǐ bō nòng qiān bēi xū méi de sǎn.
Thus the enthusiastic dumb man thumbed the humble man's umbrella.
7
那人虽穷, 却表现出天生的谦虚有礼.
nà rén suī qióng, , què biǎo xiàn chū tiān shēng de qiān xū yǒu.
The man, though poor, showed an inbred courtesy.
8
虽然贺龙性格急躁, 但是他很谦虚.
suī rán hè lóng xìng gé jí zào, , dàn shì tā hěn qiān.
Although he is impetuous, Ho Lung is very humble.
9
谦虚的人决不夸自己的功劳.
qiān xū de rén jué bù kuā zì jǐ de gōng láo.
A modest man will never boast of his merits.
10
他闭上眼睛耸起肩膀, 装出一副谦逊而又自命不凡的样子.
tā bì shàng yǎn jīng sǒng qǐ jiān bǎng, , zhuāng chū yī fù qiān xùn ér yòu zì mìng bù fán de yàng.
He shut his eyes and lifted up his shoulders, with modest consciousness.
Cultural Notes for 谦
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being 谦 is highly valued and often considered a sign of good upbringing. It reflects the Confucian ideal of modesty and respect for others, particularly in social and professional settings.
Word Family of 谦
Words Containing This Character12
谦虚qiānxūmodest謙虛
谦qiānmodest謙
谦逊qiānxùnhumble謙遜
谦卑humble謙卑
谦让to modestly decline謙讓
谦恭polite and modest謙恭
谦和meek謙和
自谦modest自謙
谦辞humble words謙辭
囊谦Nangqên county (Tibetan: nang chen rdzong) in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture 玉樹藏族自治州|玉树藏族自治州[YùshùZàngzúzìzhìzhōu], Qinghai囊謙
谦诚humble謙誠
囊谦县Nangqên county (Tibetan: nang chen rdzong) in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture 玉樹藏族自治州|玉树藏族自治州[YùshùZàngzúzìzhìzhōu], Qinghai囊謙縣
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 谦虚 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 谦
You can say '他很谦' (tā hěn qiān), which means 'He is very modest.'
Yes, 'humble' is a close equivalent, but it might not carry the same cultural weight as 谦 does in Chinese.
It is primarily used to describe people, though it can be metaphorically applied to actions or attitudes.
